Single control device for starting the multiplication and division operations in calculating machines

ABSTRACT

A device for selectively starting the calculating operations of multiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine having a single &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; key held in operative connection with the multiplication mechanism. A pivotable link mechanism having one end held in operative connection with the division mechanism is held by a spring in operative connection at the other end with the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; key only when a multiplicand is not set on the machine to thereby connect the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; key with the division mechanism. A rod is provided for operation, in response to a multiplicand setting motion of register, to disengage the link mechanism and hence the division mechanism from the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; key whereby a multiplication operation is prepared to start.

United States Patent UN l inventors GianP qB myi;

Giancarlo Horeschi, both of Crema, Italy Appl. No. 80,023 Filed Oct. 12, 1970 Patented Dec. 14, 197i Assignee Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.

Tokyo, Japan Priority Feb. 11, 1970 Italy .WZQQZbAIJL- SINGLE CONTROL DEVICE FOR STARTING THE MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OPERATIONS IN CALCULATING MACHINES 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. 1

U.S. Cl 235/63 E, 23 5/60 R Int. Cl -G06c 15/08, G06c 21/04 Field of Search 235/63L2l,

63.22, 63.23, 62, 60 M, 60, 60 TK Primary Examiner-Stephen .l. Tomsky Attorneys-William D. Hall, Elliott l. Pollock, Fred C. Philpitt, George Vande Sande, Charles F Steininger and Robert R. Priddy ABSTRACT: A device for selectively starting the calculating operations of multiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine having a single key held in operative connection with the multiplication mechanism. A pivotable link mechanism having one end held in operative connection with the division mechanism is held by a spring in operative connection at the other end with the key only when a multiplicand is not set on the machine to thereby connect the key with the division mechanism. A rod is provided for operation, in response to a multiplicand setting motion of register, to disengage the link mechanism and hence the division mechanism from the key whereby a multiplication operation is prepared to start.

PATENTEDDECMIQTI 3.627.198

INVENTORS Ql'cn 7 152. IBM-a BY 7M PM M Jw ATTORNEYS MULTIPLICATION ANI) DIVISION OPERATIONS IN CALCULATING MACHINES The present inventionrelates to a device for selectively starting the calculating operations of multiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine.

In a conventional calculating machine, the starting of the above-mentioned two mechanisms is controlled by use of two separate or different keys with marks (hereaftertermed as key More specifically, one of the keys is for the multiplication operation'and' is adapted to be actuatedor depressed so as to start the multiplication mechanism of the machine while the other key is for the division operation and is actuated to operate the division mechanism of the machine. I

The existence of two keys causes a trouble thata wrong key is inadvertently depressed for the starting of one of the multiplication and division mechanisms. In addition, the two keys require different or separate mechanisms for starting the multiplication and division mechanisms, respectively. This gives rise to the increase in the cost, size and weight of a calculating machine. Furthermore, the keyboard of the machine is essentially required to have a larger area so as to accommodate two keys.

On the other hand, there has been a calculating machine which employs a single key for the control of the starting of both multiplication and division operations. However, the conventional calculating machine of this kind is required to have an auxiliary manual means for the presetting of one of the multiplication and division operations. Thus, the utilization of a single keyin the mentioned conventionalmachine is not contributive to the elimination of the difficulties aforestated.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide. a calculating machine which employs a single key and which is free from the difficulties above-mentioned.

According to the present invention, there is provided: a

device for selectively starting the calculating operations of multiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine having register selection means, said device comprising a single key member always in operative connection with said multiplication mechanism, lever meansmovable into and out of engagement at one end with said key member and always held in operative connection at the other end with said division mechanism, a rod member operable by a spring member to move and hold said lever means out of engagement with said key member for 'thereby keeping said division mechanism disconnected from said key member when a multiplicand is set on said machine whereby the depression of said key member causes said multiplication mechanism to start its operation, said spring member extending between said rod member and a stationary machine part, and biasing means operable when said register selection means are in their zero" positions to cause said lever means to move into engagement with said key member for thereby causing the same to be operatively connected to said division mechanism whereby the latter is started in its operation by a depression of said key member.

The above and other objects and features of the'present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention with the components 'of the device being shown in a position in'which they are ready for starting a division mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1' but illustrates the components in a different position in which they are ready for starting a multiplication mechanism; and

FlG. 3 is a plan view of the components in the position shown in FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIGS; 1 and 3 of the drawings, a row'of nu meral wheels I of which theregister is made is rotatably mounted on acommon shaft 2. Each of the wheels I is provided with a cam 3 projecting radially outwardly beyond the toothed periphery of the wheeL-ln the illustrated embodiment .5 extending in parallelwith the shaft 2. The lever 4 is formed at one end with a projection 4a designed to be brought into engagement with the cam 3 and is formed at the other end with an extension 4b which provides a detent dog or notch 6. Each lever 4 is forced to rotate or swing in counterclockwise direction by a tension spring 7 extending between a fixed part of machine frame and said the other end of the lever 4 so that the projection 4a of the latter is held in engagement with the cam 3.

Rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 9 extending-in parallel with the shaft 2 is a tilting bar 8 which is an already known component of a conventional multication mechanism of a calculating machine. The bar 8 has a first projection 8a adapted for engagement with the detent dog 6 of the lever 4 and has a secondprojection 8b which is designed for engagement with a nose 10a of a rod 10 to control same, the rod 10 being mounted on a fixed portion M of machine frame for linear lost motion relative thereto by means of a spaced pins 11 on the portion M and corresponding slots in the rod 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The rod 8 is always angularly biassed by a tension spring 12 in a direction indicated by an arrow A. The spring 12 is stronger than a spring 13 which is provided between the rod I0 and the fixed portion M. Thus, it will be appreciated that the spring 12 tends to move the rod 10 through the rod 8 in a direction opposite to that in which the spring I3 acts upon the rod 10. The above-mentioned nose 10a is provided on the rod 10.-at one end thereof while the opposite end of the rod is formed into a head 14 which is positioned in front of a lever 15 which is hinged by a pin l6 to one end of a further lever 17 which in turn is pivotally mounted at approximately central portion thereof on a pin I8fixed on a stationary machine part. A tension spring 19 is provided between one end of the lever 15 and the portion of the lever 17 adjacent the other end thereof so that the lever 15 is forced toswing in clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 1. The lever 15 is also formed with a dog 20 in a portion adjacent the other end of the lever. Thus, the dog 20 in the lever 15 can be moved into or away from the path of movement of a pin 21 secured to a. key 22, as will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2. Connected to said the other end of the lever 17 is one end of a tie rod 23 which in turn is connected at the other end to av division mechanism (not shown).

The operation of the above-described device will be explained hereunder.

When a multiplicand is set on the machine so as to perform a multiplication operation, the numeral wheels I of the register are turned and, therefore, the cams 3 of the wheels 1 are moved to position different or remote from the initial ones corresponding to zero." The positions taken by various components in multiplication operation are shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the lever 4 is swung in counterclockwise direction by the spring 7 since no obstacle is encountered by the projection 4a of the lever because the cam 3 is moved from its initial "zero" position. Thus, the lever 4 is turned in the direction indicated by an arrow C, such motion being made possible by the fact that the numeral wheels I and the lever 4 both have been shifted from the positionshown in FIG. 2 rightwardly by the cyclically operated controls of machine which are well known in the art.

The detent dog 6 of the lever 4 is thus brought into opposite relation with the projection 8a of the rod 8, so that when the components 4 and 1 are returned back to their initial positions after said rightwards shifting, the dog 6 is brought into engagement with the projection 8a to cause the rod 8 to rotate in a direction opposite to that of arrow A against the force of the spring 12. The rod 10 which is in engagement at the nose 10a with the projection8b of the rod is thus allowed to be moved leftwards by the spring 13, so that the head 14 of the rod 10 strikes the lever 15 causing same to swing in the direction opposite to that of arrow B to move the notch 20 of the lever 15 away from the path of movement of the pin 21 on the key 22 as shown in FIG. 2. In the illustrated positions of the components, when the key 22 is depressed to start a multiplying operation, the assembly consisting of the levers l and 17 and the tie rod 23 will remain inoperative so that the multiplication mechanism alone is operated.

When a dividend is set on the machine to perform a division operation, the numeral wheels 1 of the register are left in their normal positions corresponding to zero" and each of the cams 3 is in the position as shown in FIG. 1. In these positions of the components, the projections 4a of the levers 4 are engaged with the cams 3 so that each lever 4 is held by the corresponding cam 3 in the position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the detent dog 6 of the lever 4 is located above the projection 8a of the rod 8. The latter is, therefore, allowed to be moved to and held in the position shown in FIG. I by the spring 12.

In this position of the rod 8, the projection 8b of the rod 8 engages the nose 10a of the rod 10 to retain same in a position in which the rod 8 is biased rightwards against the action of the spring 13 to the position shown in FIG. 1 because, as described hereinabove, the strength of the spring 13 is smaller than that of the spring 12. The head 14 of the rod 10 is thus cleared from the lever 15 so that the latter is allowed to rotate in the direction B about the pin 16 under the action of the spring 19 to bring the dog 20 into the path of movement of the pin 21 on the key 22. In this position of the lever 15, when the key 22 is depressed, the lever 15 is moved downwardly to cause the lever 17 to rotate about the pin 18, the tie rod 23 is, therefore, moved in the direction indicated by an arrow D to cause the operation of the division mechanism to be started.

What is claimed is:

I. A device for selectively starting the calculating operations of multiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine having register selection means, said device comprising a single key member always in operative connection with said multiplication mechanism, lever means movable into and out of engagement at one end with said key member and always held in operative connection at the other end with said division mechanism, a rod member operable by a spring member to move and hold said lever means out of engagement with said key member for thereby keeping said division mechanism disconnected from said key member when a multiplicand is set on said machine whereby the depression of said key member causes said multiplication mechanism to start its operation, said spring member extending between said rod member and a stationary machine part, and biasing means operable when said register selection means are in their zero positions to cause said lever means to move into engagement with said key member for thereby causing the same to be operatively connected to said division mechanism whereby the latter is started in its operation by a depression of said key member.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever means comprise first and second lever members pivotally connected together at their one ends, said second lever member being pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion on a shafl fixed to the machine frame, a third lever member having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said second lever member and having the other end operatively connected to said division mechanism, said lever member being movable into and out of engagement with an abutment means on said key member. 1

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rod member is mounted on said stationary machine part for linear sliding movement relative to said machine part, said rod member having one end adapted for engagement with said first lever member, the other end of said rod member being positioned in opposite relationship to said register selection means.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprise a second spring member extending between said first and second lever member and resiliently biasin said first lever member toward said abutment means on said ey member, a

member swingable by a rotatable shaft and having a portion in engagement with said rod member, a third spring member stronger than said first spring member, said machine having a pivotable and shiftable lever movable into engagement with said swingable member in response to the motion of said register selection means into their zero" positions, said shiftable lever being moved out of engagement with said swingable member in response to a multiplicand setting motion of said register selection means, said third spring member being operable, in response to the movement of said shiftable lever out of engagement with said swingable member, to cause said swingable member to rotate in a direction to move said rod member against said first spring member, said third spring member holding said rod member in the moved position whereby said first lever member is held in engagement with said key member by said second spring member, the movement of said shiftable lever into engagement with said swingable member causing the latter to rotate against said third spring member whereby said rod member is allowed to be moved by said first lever member from said key member, said pivotable and shiftable member holding said swingable member in the rotated position to thereby keep said first lever member disengaged from said key member.

10! 4 t t t 

1. A device for selectively starting the calculating operations of mulTiplication and division mechanisms of a calculating machine having register selection means, said device comprising a single '''' '''' key member always in operative connection with said multiplication mechanism, lever means movable into and out of engagement at one end with said key member and always held in operative connection at the other end with said division mechanism, a rod member operable by a spring member to move and hold said lever means out of engagement with said key member for thereby keeping said division mechanism disconnected from said key member when a multiplicand is set on said machine whereby the depression of said key member causes said multiplication mechanism to start its operation, said spring member extending between said rod member and a stationary machine part, and biasing means operable when said register selection means are in their ''''zero'''' positions to cause said lever means to move into engagement with said key member for thereby causing the same to be operatively connected to said division mechanism whereby the latter is started in its operation by a depression of said key member.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever means comprise first and second lever members pivotally connected together at their one ends, said second lever member being pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion on a shaft fixed to the machine frame, a third lever member having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said second lever member and having the other end operatively connected to said division mechanism, said lever member being movable into and out of engagement with an abutment means on said key member.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rod member is mounted on said stationary machine part for linear sliding movement relative to said machine part, said rod member having one end adapted for engagement with said first lever member, the other end of said rod member being positioned in opposite relationship to said register selection means.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprise a second spring member extending between said first and second lever member and resiliently biasing said first lever member toward said abutment means on said key member, a member swingable by a rotatable shaft and having a portion in engagement with said rod member, a third spring member stronger than said first spring member, said machine having a pivotable and shiftable lever movable into engagement with said swingable member in response to the motion of said register selection means into their ''''zero'''' positions, said shiftable lever being moved out of engagement with said swingable member in response to a multiplicand setting motion of said register selection means, said third spring member being operable, in response to the movement of said shiftable lever out of engagement with said swingable member, to cause said swingable member to rotate in a direction to move said rod member against said first spring member, said third spring member holding said rod member in the moved position whereby said first lever member is held in engagement with said key member by said second spring member, the movement of said shiftable lever into engagement with said swingable member causing the latter to rotate against said third spring member whereby said rod member is allowed to be moved by said first lever member from said key member, said pivotable and shiftable member holding said swingable member in the rotated position to thereby keep said first lever member disengaged from said key member. 